Welsh actress Elen Rhys has admitted she has “given up” on dating apps in her personal life, while discussing her character's own experiences with online dating in the second series of the hit Welsh crime drama Cleddau.
Rhys, who returns as detective Ffion Lloyd, opened up about her own love life when asked whether she had ever had a bad experience using dating apps. She said: “Oh, God, haven’t we all? I’m… I’ve given up on dating apps in my personal life.”
Dating app plotline in series two
In the new series, Ffion is trying to rebuild her personal life and has started using a dating app. However, when a woman's body is discovered in the River Cleddau, detectives begin to suspect that a killer could be using the same app to target victims.
Elen said it was an interesting aspect of the character to explore because Ffion's dating life runs alongside the central investigation. She said: “But what was really nice playing was… she is dating online. That runs parallel to this investigation.”
Darker territory and unresolved relationship
The new series promises to take Ffion into much darker territory as her professional investigation begins to collide with her personal life. Her complicated relationship with Rick, played by Richard Harrington, also remains unresolved. Rick is now separated and single, leaving the door open for the pair's relationship to develop as Ffion attempts to work out what she wants from her own life.
The new case also forces Ffion to revisit a traumatic period from her past, adding another layer to an already complicated investigation. As the pressure mounts, Ffion takes a personal risk which could have serious consequences for both the case and her career.
Career and family life
The first series of Cleddau became a major hit for S4C and attracted record numbers of iPlayer sessions for an S4C drama series. Rhys has largely kept her private life away from the spotlight. She is a mum to her young son and has previously spoken about balancing motherhood with her demanding acting career.
The actress has built an impressive career across television and film, with roles in Keeping Faith, The Mallorca Files, Broadchurch and Silent Witness, as well as appearances on the big screen. Series two of Cleddau launches on S4C and BBC iPlayer on October 11.
